Please, By All Means, Go Right Ahead and Vote

The Saddam Hussein Election Imitation Act

One was, in those heady Hussein days, afforded the opportunity to vote for President in Iraq, but you had to put your name and address on your ballot.

The Democrats are now seeking to ensconse just this sort of liberative labor balloting in work places all across the land to better benefit their otherwise ever-dwindling union backers.

Just before we invaded his unionized, Ba'athified nation, the esteemed Iraqi leader threw together another election to show us who was boss, in which he received 98% of the vote.

Another shocking, outgoing outcome, to be sure.

Our thought was to find the 2% who demurred and make the ones still breathing the leadership of the post-regime government.

I Could Have Been A Free Worker

The On the Waterfront Act

For the Marlon Brando movie.

If you have not yet seen this classic, and you are a Conservative, much shame be upon you. How many movies were (or are) willing to cast a trade union and its hierarchy as the villian(s). That this gem was mined in 1954 makes it now prophetic as well as kinetic.

If you are not sure if you have taken this all in, perhaps this dialogue excerpt will ring a bell:

"I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender, instead of a bum, which is what I am."

The film's director, Elia Kazan, was later blackballed from Hollywood for his testimony regarding movie industry unions before the House Un-American Activities Committee, but making the likes of this movie certainly did not help to endear him with the Communist cinematic faithful.